PIL filed in Madras HC against Senthil Balaji continuing as minister without portfolio

Chennai, June 19 Advocate M.L. Ravi of Desiya Makkal Shakthi Katchi, a political party in Tamil Nadu, has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Madras High Court against Senthil Balaji continuing as a minister without portfolio in the Stalin cabinet.

The advocate in his petition questioned the propriety in Senthil Balaji continuing in the cabinet even after he was sent to judicial custody in a case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The petitioner urged the Court to quash a press release issued by the Director of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) on June 16 stating that Senthil Balaji would continue as a minister in the Stalin cabinet without his portfolios including Electricity, Excise and Prohibition. These portfolios have been allocated to two other ministers.

Ravi pointed out that the DIPR press release was issued within hours after Raj Bhavan had issued a communique stating that Governor RN Ravi was agreeable to divest the portfolios of Senthil Balaji and hand them over to two other ministers. However, the communique clearly stated that the Governor was not in favour of the minister continuing in the cabinet.

The litigant pointed out that as per Article 164 of the Constitution, ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor. Then how could the Tamil Nadu government go against the will of the Governor and allow a person in judicial custody to continue as a minister?